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Man on the street with a microphone: “We’re talking about health care today. Which plan do you support? Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act?”

Woman on the street with sunglasses on her head: “The Affordable Care Act.”

Man on the street with a microphone: “What is it about Obamacare that you do not like?”

Woman on the street with sunglasses on her head: “I just think that there’s a lot of holes in it, and it needs to be revamped. It hasn’t been thought out.”

Man on the street with a microphone: “And you think the Affordable Care Act is a better plan than Obamacare?”

Woman on the street with sunglasses on her head: “Better, but I’m not happy with that either.”

Again, I’m not making this up.

Man on the street with a microphone: “What do you agree with? Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act?”

Man on the street in a Baltimore Orioles cap: “I’m leaning more toward the Affordable Care Act. I’m also very sympathetic to people that don’t have the ability to have proper medical insurance.”

Man on the street with a microphone: “So the Affordable Care Act is still a better option?”

Man on the street in a Baltimore Orioles cap: “Yes.”

This is America, ladies and gentlemen. This is the electorate.

The previous exchanges were part of a segment this week on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

I happened to see the segment when it first aired. If I hadn’t, I surely couldn’t have missed it in the days following, as links to the video online littered my Facebook and Twitter timelines.

I’ll admit I laughed when I saw it. Shook my head, too.

Then I became a little sad. Our country is littered with people such as this. People who don’t know that the Affordable Care Act and Obamacare are one and the same. Not only that, these people have an opinion as to why one is better than the other.

Want more? You know you do.

Man on the street with a microphone: “So the Affordable Care Act is more affordable than Obamacare?”

Man on the street in a Lakers jersey: “Just the name says it all.”

More.

Man on the street with a microphone: “So, Obamacare is un-American?”

Man on the street in sunglasses and a white T-shirt: “I think it’s kind of un-American to force people. What if they can’t afford it?”

Man on the street with a microphone: “And the Affordable Care Act is American?”

Man on the street in sunglasses and a white T-shirt: “I think it’s more American because it allows people to make their own choices on what they want and who they want to work with.”

Even more.

Man on the street with a microphone: “Do you believe that an informed citizenry is essential to a democracy?”

Woman on the street who just chose the Affordable Care Act over Obamacare: “Yes.”

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by this lack of basic understanding of current events. And maybe there were 50 people who knew the lack of difference between the Affordable Care Act and Obamacare for every one who didn’t.

The woman in the last exchange I shared at least got one point right. An informed citizenry is essential to democracy. Judging by this “Jimmy Kimmel” segment and the lawmakers we keep putting into office, we are failing in this regard.

Is it any wonder why Illinois and our country are in shambles?

• Jason Schaumburg is editor of the Northwest Herald. He thinks the Affordable Care Act represents all that’s good with Obamacare, and that Obamacare represents all that’s bad with the Affordable Care Act. Reach him at 815-459-4122 or via email at jschaumburg@shawmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Schaumy.